Charizma

    Charizma

    Oskarshamn, Sweden7 reviews across 7 releases

    aorhard rockmelodic metalpop metal
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    Charizma was a Swedish Christian rock band formed in Oskarshamn in 1981 by brothers Bo, Jan and Goran Nikolausson. The early group began in punk before settling into melodic hard rock, with Bosse Nikolausson handling bass and lead vocals and the band building its sound around guitar-and-keyboard arrangements, a tight rhythm section and prominent vocal hooks. The self-financed 1985 debut Rock the World was polished but forceful, with fast, anthemic songs such as "We Are the Knights." By 1990, Join Hands made the formula more commercial and mellow, adding more keyboards and carefully produced backing vocals while retaining a harder edge on "Take You High." The seven-song Heaven Can't Wait continued that development through stronger guitar solos and a greater keyboard presence. By the late 1990s, the old hair-metal sound was barely recognizable.

    Sonny Larsson stopped fronting Charizma by 1988, after which Bosse resumed lead singing; Mats Tarnfors contributed keyboards during the band's early-1990s period. In 1996, Johan Mauritzson joined on lead vocals and keyboards alongside guitarist Thomas Karlsson, and Charizma's move toward radio-friendly Christian pop became more pronounced. The band toured internationally, including four Estonian tours between 1989 and 1992, while "Join Hands" became associated with Estonia's Singing Revolution. Charizma entered Estonia's Eurovision selection in 2004 and Poland's equivalent in 2007. In November 2008, the band went on indefinite hiatus. The three Nikolausson brothers later appeared under the Charizma name for occasional performances, including a 40th-anniversary show for Rock the World in Oskarshamn.

    7 releases reviewed